The sharpest divides emerge along religious lines, according to the poll. Orthodox Jews, both Hasidic and Modern, overwhelmingly reject Mamdani, with just 3 percent supporting him.
By Corey Walker, The Algemeiner
Most Jewish voters in New York City oppose Democratic mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani, but he still enjoys a plurality of their support as their collective vote is too divided among other the other candidates in the race, according to new polling released by the New York Solidarity Network.
Jewish support in the upcoming New York City mayoral race is fractured among other candidates, with former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (21 percent), incumbent Mayor Eric Adams (25 percent), and Republican challenger Curtis Sliwa (14 percent) all drawing significant backing.
The July survey of 800 registered Jewish voters found that just 37 percent said they would back Mamdani in a general election matchup.
The fragmented opposition for the rest of the Jewish electorate underscores the challenge Mamdani’s critics face in consolidating around an alternative.
However, Jewish voters, who overwhelmingly identify as Democrats, are still breaking with the party’s nominee. Even among Democratic-leaning and progressive Jewish communities, many are turning away from Mamdani due to his record on Israel and antisemitism.
The sharpest divides emerge along religious lines, according to the poll. Orthodox Jews, both Hasidic and Modern, overwhelmingly reject Mamdani, with just 3 percent supporting him.
They instead lean heavily toward Adams (61 percent) and to a lesser extent Cuomo (14 percent) and Sliwa (18 percent). Conservative Jews also favor Cuomo (35 percent) over Mamdani (31 percent).
In contrast, Reform Jews and those without a denominational affiliation are more likely to support Mamdani, 54 percent and 48 percent, respectively.
At the core of the opposition is Mamdani’s stance on Israel. Two-thirds of respondents identified as “pro-Israel,” and over 70 percent described antisemitism in New York as a “very serious” or “somewhat serious” problem.
Mamdani’s refusal to condemn the slogan “globalize the intifada,” which 62 percent of surveyed voters described as antisemitic, has been particularly controversial.
The survey presented voters with a statement detailing Mamdani’s support for the boycott, divestment, and sanctions (BDS) movement, his reluctance to affirm Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish state, and his past efforts in the State Assembly to limit cooperation between Jewish-American and Israeli charities.
After hearing this description, 66 percent of Jewish voters said it raised either “very serious” or “somewhat serious” concerns about his candidacy.
In fact, about half of all respondents (51 percent) said they believe Mamdani is antisemitic. Among his supporters, however, that number dropped sharply to just 3 percent, revealing a stark divide in perception.
While Mamdani does find support among younger, less observant Jews, the polling shows that Jewish concerns over safety and antisemitism remain potent political issues.
Among voters aged 50 and older, more than 60 percent said they are concerned that Mamdani’s election would make the city less safe for Jews.
Mamdani, the 33‑year‑old state assemblymember and proud democratic socialist, defeated Cuomo and other candidates in a lopsided first‑round win in the city’s Democratic primary for mayor, notching approximately 43.5 percent of first‑choice votes compared to Cuomo’s 36.4 percent.
A little-known politician before this year’s primary campaign, Mamdani is an outspoken supporter of the BDS movement, which seeks to isolate Israel from the international community as a step toward its eventual elimination.
Mamdani has also repeatedly refused to recognize Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish state, falsely suggesting the country does not offer “equal rights” for all its citizens, and promised to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if he visits New York.
The post Most New York City Jewish voters oppose Mamdani but are divided among other candidates, poll finds appeared first on World Israel News.